Research reveals risk of star 3I/Atlas hitting Earth at a speed of 259 thousand km per hour
Universidade Estadual researchers from Michigan published a study simulating possible impacts from interstellar comets on Terra. The work, led by Darryl Seligman, focused on astro 3I/Atlas, the third confirmed object of its type in Sistema Solar. The analysis indicates an average speed of 72 km/s at the time of the hypothetical collision.
The speed is equivalent to about 259,200 km/h and exceeds most common asteroid impacts. Os Os calculations consider the typical hyperbolic trajectory of non-System Solar objects.
Impact speed and energy.
Interstellar comets maintain high speed when crossing Sistema Solar. Terra’s gravity accelerates the object only in the last moments before collision.
Computer models simulated thousands of possible trajectories. Os results from Os indicate 72 km/s as the most frequent amount for possible impacts.
The energy released would be significantly greater than in conventional asteroid collisions. The difference happens due to the combination of mass and extreme speed.
Regions and periods of greatest risk
The impact probability is concentrated near the Equador line. The phenomenon arises from the orbital geometry of Terra at certain times.
The critical period coincides with winter in the Norte hemisphere. Na epoch Nesta, the terrestrial position favors the intersection with hyperbolic trajectories.
The relative speed increases in this specific configuration. Geographic concentration results directly from this orbital alignment.
Characteristics of the craters formed
Interstellar impacts generate craters with different patterns. High speed causes greater fragmentation of the object and the ground.
The identification of these old brands faces technical difficulties. Geological Processos and erosion have erased most of the evidence over time.
It is estimated that in the last 4.6 billion years there have been around ten collisions of this type.
3I/Atlas trajectory in Sistema Solar
The star 3I/Atlas was discovered in 2024 by ground-based telescopes. Observações confirmed origin outside of Sistema Solar.
The object follows a hyperbolic orbit with no permanent gravitational connection to Sol. The current stage does not pose a risk of collision with the Terra.
- The current speed remains high throughout the crossing.
- No interstellar impacts are expected in the near future
- The study used data from all three known comets to validate the models.
International collaboration in the study.
The research included the participation of scientists from several institutions. Dušan Marčeta, from Universidade or Belgrado, was part of the main team.
Eloy Peña-Asensio of Politecnico di Milano contributed additional analysis. Os results from Os were published in a specialized astronomy magazine.
The simulations accurately reproduced the characteristics observed in real objects. The work reinforces the rarity of interstellar impact events.
History of detected interstellar objects.
The first confirmed visitor was 1I/’Oumuamua, in 2017. Dois years later, 2I/Borisov crossed Sistema Solar.
3I/Atlas represents the third documented case. Todos the objects presented speeds compatible with an external origin.
Detection depends on increasingly precise instruments. Os Novos telescopes increase the ability to identify these rare visitors.
